Kyoto National Museum

The Kyoto National Museum stands across from Sanjusangendo in Kyoto and displays Japanese art and historical artifacts. Each special exhibition sets a theme, such as the Year of the Horse, the Osaka Expo, or Himeji-style. The main building is closed due to remodeling and earthquake safety issues, so only the new building's exhibitions are open, and a visit usually takes over two hours. Photography inside is prohibited except for permitted exhibits, and the viewing route is fixed, so visitors wait to read explanations when it is crowded.